The Executive Management Committee of the International Union of Forest Research Organization (IUFRO) has paid a courtesy visit to the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR).
The Committee as part of their visit held discussions with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako and other Management members. Dr. John Parrotta, President of IUFRO highlighted the organization’s presence in Ghana for its Annual Management Meeting scheduled from September 16 to September 22, 2023. The IUFRO’s global event aimed to shape policies and strategies within its core mandate.
The Vice-Chancellor in his welcome remarks emphasized on the importance of collaboration between IUFRO and the University. He also recounted the University’s transformation from a Forestry School, originally training Foresters across West Africa, into a University with its clear mandate in energy and natural resources. He noted that the University still maintains its roots in forestry education through the School of Natural Resources.
Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, Vice-Chancellor
Prof. Mrs. Mercy Afua Derkyi, Director of the Quality Assurance and Academic Planning Directorate and an Associate Professor in the Department of Forest Science, shared the positive news that the University is a proud member of IUFRO. She expressed optimism that the visit would expand networking opportunities in fostering stronger collaboration.
Prof. Mrs. Mercy Afua Derkyi, Director of the Quality Assurance and Academic Planning Directorate
The IUFRO Team also held an engagement session with the University community, making presentations on varied opportunities in enhancing collaboration. Alexander Buck, the Executive Director of IUFRO, affirmed that IUFRO serves as a global network, facilitating voluntary cooperation among individuals and organizations, dedicated to forestry education and forest products research as well as its related disciplines.
IUFRO’s overarching goal is to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, uniting more than 630-member organizations and hundreds of individual researchers across 115 countries. Alexander Buck mentioned that membership of the Organization is open to any institution or individual with an interest in promoting, supporting, or conducting research in forests management and products.
A delegation from the Forestry Commission joined the entourage for a field trip to the Tain II Forest. They were warmly received by Global Green Gold, overseeing a restoration initiative within the forest reserve.
Nelson Amelordi, the Plantation Manager for Samartex, shared insights on the project, highlighting the successful planting of 1,025 hectares out of a total of 2,480 within a four-year period.
The visit also had an in-depth exploration of plantation modules, the harvesting process, community fire management programmes, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
Prof. Mrs. Mercy A. Derkyi, called for a heightened collaboration between the University and Form Ghana Limited, to harness valuable research interests in bonding academia and industry. Alexander Buck, the Executive Director of IUFRO, also encouraged both companies and their staff to consider becoming part of IUFRO, underlining the organization’s robust knowledge-sharing network for forestry professionals.
